Fitness Fellowship 2024: Week 17 Check-in

[sylvanwitch]

Another week down, my friends! Suddenly, the year seems to be moving very quickly. Time is so strange (and subjective) that way.

How has your week been, fitness-wise and/or otherwise? What's working for you? What isn't? Please feel free to share your progress (or lack thereof--no judgement here).

On the drive to work this morning, I heard a report on NPR about a study that shows that people who climb 6-10 flights of stairs every day tend to live longer and have fewer strokes, etc. That gave me a little boost of pride because I make it a point to climb at least 10 flights of stairs every workday. Now, I'm going to make sure I get in stairs on the weekends and during breaks, too!



Weight: 203.2, down .6 from last week.

Exercise: Every day, yes! Intervals, yes! Weight training, yes! Inclines, yes!

Intermittent fasting: This has been going well. I've rediscovered beans. To be clear, I've always liked them, but for a LONG time, my calorie-counting brain wouldn't let me indulge. (I know--how stupid can one be? Beans are SO good for us!) Last Tuesday, a friend and I went out for dinner at this awesome bazaar that is run by a non-profit and is specifically for immigrants to get their businesses off the ground. They have an amazing food court with all kinds of international foods. I had Congolese rice and beans and fried plantains, and that made me crave beans of all kinds, so I've been eating a lot of rice and beans and intend to continue the trend. I am mostly using premade mixes (and avoiding, wherever I can, the processed-food pitfalls) and rinsed, canned beans right now, but I do intend to start teaching myself some easy bean recipes. SO GOOD!

Meditation/breathing: I do this a LOT more now, especially boxing my breath, and it is paying off. I've noticed my blood pressure seems to be coming down the more cardio and breathing I do. I find it very centering to just breathe, sometimes with a mantra, sometimes a song lyric...whatever the case, I will keep doing it because it is awesome!

Sleep: On this, I failed a LOT this past week. I've been staying up late to read. Part of that is because my husband has had a lot of late shifts, getting home between 10-11pm. I find it hard to relax if I know he's going to be home late, not because I'm afraid to be alone but just because I know he's going to come in and we'll have a conversation, etc. I can't really get into pre-sleep mode until he's home. Anyway, I need to get better about this (and I hope he gets back to his more usual day shifts soon).

For the week ahead, more of the same!


Here's hoping the week ahead is a good one for all of us!

Comments

progress

[oldtoadwoman]

I'm down a teensy bit from last week. And I've consistently weighed in all year so far, even on those weeks when I knew the results wouldn't be good, so I'm staying accountable.

Re: progress

[sylvanwitch]

Consistent weigh-ins are nothing to sneeze at. They take an effort of will to maintain, and you are finding that will. Go you!

[oschun]

I'm so pleased for you that you've rediscovered beans. There's a whole world of exciting bean-based recipes out there. They're so healthy, and tasty of course.

There are two women in my dept now who are Zoe acolytes. The one was sharing her edamame beans with me at lunchtime today while we chatted about gut bacteria and earlier tonight she sent me pictures of the vegan poke bowl she was making for dinner. Lol, it's like being in a Zoe club.

This week has been particularly crazy and I'm feeling stressed so I'm mostly just in a holding pattern - eating well on the whole and doing some exercise. It will be that way for the next two weeks over the start of the exam period. I mean, I woke up at 4 this morning in the middle of dreaming how to teach the structure a Romeo and Juliet essay! I'm not even dreaming in a normal way.

[sylvanwitch]

SO delicious and nutritious! I've even managed to get T. to eat some, though I still can't get him to eat them regularly. (He hates beans and peas and all sorts of other things he really should be eating. *sighs*)

I have a colleague who recently borrowed Dr. Greger's book from me, and now she's a convert to plants-based eating and is putting me to shame by her enthusiasm. :-)

Maintaining a healthy diet and some exercise in the face of super-stressful work events is fantastic, hon. I do not always manage those feats of willpower, usually succumbing to the processed food demon, so I applaud your strength! Good luck getting through the next two weeks!

[luzula]

Yay beans! : )

My goal for last week was to rest away my cold, which I did--it was mild and passed in a few days. My sleep was pretty good, and I kept up the PT for my shoulder. It's taking its time in getting well, though. : (

I went to the May Day demonstration yesterday, which always makes me really tired, because I hate walking and standing around on pavement, and also it was quite hot (for Sweden). Anyway, this week I aim to:
- work out on four days
- spend time outside every day
- go running once or possibly twice
- keep up the PT for my shoulder
- keep to my sleep habits
- keep to the weight I'm at now.

I'm happy at now having reached the weight I'm comfortable with, so my goal is to stay there.

[sylvanwitch]

I applaud you for taking care of yourself this past week and for sticking to your modified goals, so you could get well sooner. I hope the lingering effects of your mild cold are soon a thing of the past! (I've got a mild cold myself, and I am already SO over the sniffling.)

Good luck with your goals for the week ahead, all of which seem quite reasonable and doable! Also, I sure hope the shoulder stuff gets better soonest!

[luzula]

Thank you! And I do hope you get rid of your cold soon, too.